Slings and Arrows

[James Twining]

Writing can be a tough business.
No, don't worry, I'm not looking for (or expecting) any sympathy, especially not from you lot! But it does seem to be one of those professions where, perhaps a bit like acting or even running your own business, you have to endure these huge swings from real high to terrible low and (hopefully) back again. The clichéd expression typically deployed to describe this type of experience is that it is a "rollercoaster" but I'm not sure how appropriate that is - for a start it implies that it is in some way exciting and enjoyable when often the reverse is true! I see it more as an extended game of snakes and ladders.

Every so often something good happens which seems to propel you forward a few squares. Every so often you suffer a reverse which sends you back the other way. And of course luck, or the dice to stretch the analogy, plays a huge part in all of this. The important thing, perhaps, is not to get too distracted by these fluctuations in fortune and just focus on generally moving in the right direction and avoiding that really annoying snake that takes you all the way back down to the begining (which for some reason I always seem to land on more often than the ladder which takes me all the way to the top!)

Anyway, I mention all this because I landed on a small ladder yesterday which I wanted to celebrate for once (my normal insecure predisposition is to dwell on the setbacks). As part of an an interview with Lee Child, The Sunday Telegraph, no less, identified its six top thriller writers and I (to my surprise and pleasure) was one of them alongside James Patterson, Tess Gerritsen, Joseph Kanon, Mo Hayder, and John Twelve Hawkes. Now I have to admit that this article was published on April Fool's Day, but I think they were deadly serious. [in fact you can click here to read it if you don't believe me]

Anyway, it's made my week, which only got better when I received through the post a traditional red scarf from the city of Pamplona in Spain worn during the annual Sanfermines festival (you know the one where tourists get gored to death by bulls and everyone else cheers).

It was sent to me by Carmen Jane de Carlos, who is officially my first fan in Spain! The biggest high, or ladder, or whatever you want to call it, of being a writer is hearing from readers from around the world who have enjoyed my books. But it's even better when they send gifts!

Thanks Carmen - next time a bull chases me at least I'll be dressed for the occasion.